Considering the Alternatives... Some view immodesty as totally
subjective or determined by the styles of the day But Bible
condemns immodesty as sinful Is some level of undress immodest? If
not, anything is proper If some level of undress is immodest by
biblical standards, violation of limit is sin If sinful, principles
to determine limit arise either from revelation or innate knowledge
Can we know what constitutes this sin?
Slide 3
1 Timothy 2:8-10 I desire therefore that the men pray in every
place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing. In like
manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with
shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or
costly raiment; but (which becometh women professing godliness)
through good works.
Slide 4
1 Peter 3:1-6 1 In like manner, ye wives, be in subjection to
your own husbands; that, even if any obey not the word, they may
without the word be gained by the behavior of their wives; 2
beholding your chaste behavior coupled with fear. 3 Whose adorning
let it not be the outward adorning of braiding the hair, and of
wearing jewels of gold, or of putting on apparel; 4 but let it be
the hidden man of the heart, in the incorruptible apparel of a meek
and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. 5
For after this manner aforetime the holy women also, who hoped in
God, adorned themselves, being in subjection to their own husbands:
6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose children ye now
are, if ye do well, and are not put in fear by any terror.
Slide 5
N.T. Words Involved In Study 1 Timothy 2:8-10 Holy Modest
Shamefastness Sobriety Godliness 1 Peter 3:1-6 Chaste Fear Meek
Quiet Holy
Slide 6
Cumulative Effect of Words If word modest used by itself, could
be open to various interpretations If two or three words used in
isolation, may still be difficult to make application However, when
all of the words are used in conjunction with the historical
context and biblical principles, a clear pattern for application
exists That pattern differs from modern practice
Slide 7
Old Testament Principles & Definitions
Slide 8
Do We Consider O.T. Principles? Yes, 1 Peter 3 tells Christians
to consider after this manner aforetime in clothing May show chaste
behavior coupled with fear May show characteristics of harlot
(Prov. 7:10) Example of Sarah predates the Law Learn from things
written aforetime about definitions & basic concepts (Rom.
15:4) Some order set from the beginning (see use of Gen. 2 by Jesus
in Matt. 19)
Slide 9
Set In Order From The Beginning Nakedness not shameful before
sin (Gen. 2:25) When shame recognized in sin, man sought to cover
nakedness (3:7) First clothing attempted was insufficient to cover
nakedness (3:10) Gods covering clothed them (3:21) Note this must
be seen as setting original order just as so with marriage
Slide 10
Aprons - Mans 1st Attempt Hebrew: hagora - girdle, belt,
loincloth Greek (LXX): peridzoma - a compound of around plus life A
covering for loins (Jer. 13:1-4) Below hips and above waist
uncovered Equivalent of modern shorts or miniskirt Completely naked
before apron & still called naked by inspired record after
apron
Slide 11
Coats or Tunics Hebrew: kuttonet - a tunic generally with
sleeves, coming down to knees, rarely to the ankles (Gesenius, 420;
Harris, I:459; BDB, 509) Greek (LXX): chiton - garment covering
shoulders to knees, sometimes longer (Gen. 37:3) Original ISBE
(Dress) says chiton resembled the Roman tunic, corresponding most
nearly to our long shirt, reaching below the knee always, and, in
case it was designed for dress occasions, reaching almost to the
ground (I.S.B.E., II:877). Later says chiton of peasantry was
shorter like modern kamis or Syrian fellah which is to the
knee.
Slide 12
Fred H. Wight Manners and Customs of Bible Lands, 91 The tunic
(inappropriately translated coat) was a shirt which was worn next
to the skin. It was made of leather, hair-cloth, wool, linen, or in
modern times, usually of cotton. The simplest form of it was
without sleeves and reached to the knees or sometimes to the
ankles. The well-to-do wore it with sleeves and extending to the
ankles. Women as well as men wore it [see Cant. 5:3, A.R.V.],
although there was no doubt a difference in style and pattern in
what was worn by the two.
Slide 13
What Is Defined As Nakedness In Old Testament Record ?
Slide 14
Words Used for Nakedness Hebrew: erya--"nakedness" (Harris,
I:695) May refer to absolute or relative nakedness Greek: gumnos
"Unclad, without clothing" (Thayer, Greek-English Lexicon, 122);
"unclothed" (Kittel, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament,
1:773); "naked" (Liddell and Scott, Greek-English Lexicon, 170).
"Ill-clad" or "clad in the undergarment only" (Thayer, 122); "badly
clothed" or "not fully clothed" (Kittel, 1:773-74); "in common
language...lightly clad" (Liddell and Scott, 170). Examine passages
showing each sense
Slide 15
Strict Sense of Nakedness Gen. 2:25Both naked, the man and his
wife Gen. 3:7They knew that they were naked Gen. 9:21-23Ham saw
fathers nakedness Job 1:21Naked... out of my mother's womb Mk.
14:51-52Having linen cloth cast over naked Lk. 8:27, 35...wore no
clothes...
Slide 16
Naked = Not Fully Clothed 2 Sam. 6:14David in a linen ephod
(also v. 20) Matt. 25:36...naked, and ye clothed me Jn. 21:7Peter
naked without outer garment Acts 19:16They fled out of that house
naked Acts 22:23Cried out, and cast off their clothes Jas. 2:15"If
a brother or sister be naked...."
Slide 17
Nakedness With Moral Shame Nakedness as a moral shame found
from Genesis (3:7) through Revelation ( 3:17; 16:15; 17:16) Gen.
3:10 Adam with apron hid because naked Ex. 20:26 No steps on altars
that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon Ex. 28:42 linen
breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the
thighs they shall reach Isa. 47:2-3 uncover the thigh thy nakedness
shall be uncovered, yea, thy shame shall be seen. Isa.20:4 buttocks
uncovered to the shame Ezek. 16:7-8 naked and bare with breasts
shown
Slide 18
Summing Up The Bibles Definition Of Nakedness Exposing any of
the following rendered one naked in Bible terms: loins buttocks
breasts thighs When God clothed Adam & Eve, all were covered
These principles predated law & covenant Which can we leave
uncovered & be godly?
Slide 19
Nakedness & Thigh Hebrew: yarek Used to denote that fully
covered by priestly breeches (significance of minad construction)
Same word used to signify loins as source of reproduction (Gen.
46:26; Exod. 1:5; etc.) If yarek is euphemistic reference to
generative parts, does this not suggest thigh is private part?
Could this euphemism be used if there was no problem seen with
exposing the thigh? Can we be sure exposing the thigh is pure?
Slide 20
Principle Regarding Influence 1Thess. 5:21fprove all things
Col. 3:17do all in the name of the Lord 1 Cor. 10:31do all to the
glory of God 1 Pet. 2:11-15 work to glorify God Lk. 17:1-2 not to
be a stumblingblock 1 Cor. 10:32 no offense, but profit 1 Pet.
3:15-17 live beyond reproach Matt. 5:13-16let your light so shine
that men... Eph. 5:11 have no fellowship with the unfruitful works
of darkness, but rather even reprove them
Slide 21
What Can We Prove Right? Topless attire of some native tribes
and other cultures worn without shame? Young men going shirtless in
mixed company Modern swimwear which uncovers entire leg to hip and
much of top and back? Plunging neckline which accentuates top?
Tight-fitting garments which outline human form rather than
concealing it? Miniskirts and shorts which leave almost all of the
thighs exposed? If one or more are proper, why are not all?
Slide 22
Other Applications of Godliness Dress which is modest in amount
covered, but failing to show respect (casual) Speech which fails to
show priority & focus on spiritual things Attitude in worship
which fails to show proper reverence Participation in entertainment
that is coarse or suggestive Dating activity that tends towards
immorality